National school in large Cork town concerned about accommodating classes in next two years

A site was identified in January 2023 and subsequently purchased in Janeville for Owenabue Educate Together, but it doesn’t appear on the list of projects prioritised to proceed in 2026 or 2027

Owenabue Educate Together National School (ETNS) is currently operating across two split sites in Heron’s Wood, one of them being Rosemount (pictured).

Fears are escalating that a national school in Co Cork’s largest town won’t be able to accommodate classes within the next two years.

Minister for education Hildegarde Naughton is being urged to clarify what is to be done to alleviate the mounting pressure facing Owenabue ETNS (Educate Together National School) in Carrigaline.

Sinn Féin councillor Eoghan Fahy got unanimous cross-party support to put pressure on the minister after detailing the current woes of the school after being contacted by the “very anxious” school representatives.

“It opened in 2020 in response to a need for additional primary school places in Carrigaline and since then it has operated exclusively in temporary accommodation. In March 2021, a decision was taken, and publicly announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, to re-allocate the permanent building originally assigned to this school. 

"It had been due to move into in September 2021. At that time, the school was given repeated assurances that it would be treated as a priority project for a permanent school building,” Mr Fahy said.

The school is currently operating across two split sites in Heron’s Wood.

Following confirmation in 2021 that permanent accommodation would be delivered via a new-build project, a site was identified in January 2023 and subsequently purchased in Janeville.

Mr Fahy said that at a meeting in May 2024 a timeline was given indicating this would be achieved by either next year or 2028 at the latest.

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He said no final sign-off for it and no communication has been received by the school authorities outlining the reasons for the delay, next steps, or an updated timeline.

In parallel, the school has experienced an acute accommodation shortfall. Capacity in their original temporary building was exhausted last year and following engagement with the department and in the absence of suitable alternatives, the school was compelled to open a second temporary site.

“This interim arrangement provides capacity until June 2028, after which the school will be unable to accommodate its full complement of mainstream classes. 

"The current lack of progress stands in clear contrast to the assurances provided to the school community by both the department and the Taoiseach since 2021 that the Owenabue ETNS was considered a priority project,” Mr Fahy said.

While a permanent site has been purchased, no construction has commenced, and it doesn’t appear on the list of projects prioritised to proceed in 2026 or 2027.